Homelessness up in Coachella Valley; Palm Springs continues to have the most (2024)
The number of homeless people in the Coachella Valley increased this year, according to the newly released 2023 Riverside County homeless point-in-time data.
Palm Springs continued to have by far the most unsheltered people in the valley at 239, up 8% from last year's 222. The figure more than doubled in Desert Hot Springs, from 48 unsheltered people last year to 107 this year.
In total, there were 982 homeless people counted in the Coachella Valley, up 3% from 949 in 2022.
Additionally, results showed a 12% increase in the county’s total homeless population, with the number of people lacking shelter up 23% compared to last year's results.
The survey, which was conducted Jan. 25 to 27 and included hundreds of volunteers, identified a total of 3,725 people experiencing homelessness throughout Riverside County. That number includes 2,441 unsheltered and 1,284 sheltered people. The unsheltered number increased 23% from 1,980 in 2022, while the sheltered count decreased 4% from 1,336 the previous year.
Full results will be discussed at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors' meeting on Tuesday.
The count is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in order for the county and cities to receive federal funding related to addressing homelessness, as well as access state funds that are based on point-in-time counts.
The survey also broke down the results by the five supervisorial districts. District 4, which includes the Coachella Valley, had the highest number of unsheltered people with 755, and the second-highest number of sheltered people with 406. In 2022, those numbers were 670 and 424, respectively.
Results were further divvied up based on cities. The 239 unsheltered people in Palm Springs, where the total population is 45,000, trailed only the 605 in the city of Riverside, which has a population of roughly 315,000.
Indio had the county's fifth-highest number of unsheltered people, followed by Desert Hot Springs, according to the results.
Here are the full results for the nine Coachella Valley cities from the 2022 homeless point-in-time count:
Palm Springs:239 unsheltered (222 in 2022); 29 sheltered(54 in 2022)
Indio:108 unsheltered (105 in 2022); 319 sheltered (322 in 2022)
Desert Hot Springs:107 unsheltered (48 in 2022); 15 sheltered (no change from 2022)
Coachella:67 unsheltered (74 in 2022); 7 sheltered (0 in 2022)
Cathedral City:40 unsheltered (61 in 2022); 5 sheltered(12in 2022)
Palm Desert:39 unsheltered (26 in 2022); 0 sheltered (no change from 2022)
La Quinta:4 unsheltered (7 in 2022); 0 sheltered (0 in 2022)
Rancho Mirage:3 unsheltered (no change from 2022); 0 sheltered (no change from 2022)
Indian Wells:0 unsheltered (no change from 2022); 0 sheltered (no change from 2022)
Various homeless subpopulations also experienced changes from last year. According to the 2023 countywide results, there were 256 veterans (31% increase), 143 households with children (12% increase), 229 youth ages 18-24 (27% decrease) and 257 seniors ages 62 and older (6% increase). Additionally, 21% of unsheltered people surveyed were experiencing homelessness for the first time.
The three primary factors contributing to unsheltered homelessness during the count were family disruption (27%), lack of income (19%) and unemployment (12%), the survey stated.
What's to come
Despite less-than-ideal results, work is being done throughout the county to get more people connected to necessary resources, such as housing. Documents that will be presented at Tuesday's board meeting show the number of permanent supportive housing beds in the county increased from 716 in 2018 to 927 in 2022.
Also noted is that more than 300 permanent supportive housing units will be created during the next few years. Permanent supportive housing units that were recently awarded funds from California's No Place Like Home program include Aloe Palm Canyon and Vista Sunrise II in Palm Springs and Villa Verde I in Coachella.
In Palm Springs, a navigation center supported by the city and county is planned for a 3.64-acre site at 3589 McCarthy Road. The center will provide temporary housing and other resources to homeless residents, with the aim of moving people into stable housing. It will include 80 temporary housing units, plus spaces where clients will receive a variety of services, such as mental and physical health care and help with securing a job and long-term housing.
The city also recently approved a plan for Indio-based homeless services provider Martha’s Village and Kitchen to run an overnight shelter during the coldest and warmest months. The shelter will be at the Palm Springs Access Center, which Martha's Village already operates near the airport.
In February, the Palm Springs Police Department launched a new initiative called "Operation Relentless Sun" to better address negative impacts on the city associated with homelessness by more strictly enforcing laws for homeless individuals engaging in criminal activity, such as using or selling drugs or stealing shopping carts.
Among the unsheltered people surveyed, 32% requested post-count services, and 784 people were referred to services, according to the survey.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
In total, there were 982 homeless people counted in the Coachella Valley, up 3% from 949 in 2022. Additionally, results showed a 12% increase in the county's total homeless population, with the number of people lacking shelter up 23% compared to last year's results.
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Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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